How Soon Should I Seek Chiropractic Care and Personal Injury Attorney After an Auto Accident?
Most professionals advise going to a Car Accident Chiropractor immediately and advise never to wait longer than 72 hours after an accident to seek treatment.
72 hours is considered the "reasonable" amount of time by an insurance company.
After this time frame, the insurance company may have the right to deny your injury claim and prevent you from receiving fair compensation for your medical bills.
A personal injury attorney helps accident victims deal with insurance companies and fight for your right to compensation for your medical bills and treatments. It is wise to contact an accident lawyer as soon as you start treating your injuries.
This blog discusses what actions to take following a car accident regarding medical treatment and legal steps.
Table of contents:
- When should you see a doctor and PI attorney after a car accident
- Never leave gaps in your medical treatment
- Other suggestions for getting full reimbursement from the insurance company
- No need to admit to fault or apologize after the car accident
- How to better handle the insurance companies
- Get auto accident injury help at Arrowhead Clinic
Waiting is never a good idea regarding a Car Accident Injury. You can never act too soon to seek help after a car crash, and you should do it as soon as possible.
Ideally, visit a chiropractor within 72 hours of the accident because insurance companies consider this a reasonable amount of time.
Chiropractic medicine is a holistic treatment option that does not rely on medication, surgery, or other invasive procedures. Whiplash is the type of car accident injury most often treated by chiropractors.
You should see a lawyer at about the same time you see a chiropractor.
It's best to speak with an attorney before you speak with the insurance provider. Your lawyer will provide you with personal injury protection, legal counsel, and will ensure you do not say anything to the insurance company that could damage your accident claim.
Seeing a lawyer at about the same time you see a chiropractor will ensure that your treatments are properly documented.
Common Injuries After a Car Crash
Some of the most common car accident injuries include the following:
- Broken Bones
- Internal Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Whiplash Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Organ Damage
- Head injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Mobility Issues
- Health Issues
- Memory Loss
- Minor Bruising
- Internal Damage
- Brain Damage
Never Leave Gaps in Your Medical Treatment
Delayed treatment after motor vehicle crashes can be detrimental to accident lawsuits.
A delay in treatment may drastically reduce the financial compensation that your insurance will pay on your claim.
If you have untreated injuries from an accident, it is imperative that you seek treatment such as chiropractic care.
Even if you are feeling fine after the crash, you should still seek immediate treatment to be sure that you have not sustained any underlying injuries.
An accident injury doctor or another health care provider is trained to take a history of your accident injuries, thoroughly examine you, and treat you if necessary. Not seeking treatment could negatively affect your auto accident injury claim.
Chiropractic care can be beneficial even if you do not have any immediate injury symptoms after an automobile accident because many injuries take hours or days for symptoms to appear.
You are far better off seeing a qualified healthcare provider whether or not you feel pain so they can advise you if you are injured or not and what you can do about your injuries going forward.
Did you injure your back during the accident? Read our blog "How you can Take Care of Your Back Pain After a Car Accident" to learn more.
Seeing A Personal Injury Lawyer
When it comes to seeing a Personal Injury Lawyer after you were injured in an accident, Georgia has enacted laws that limit the time frame in which you may take legal action after you’ve suffered some harm due to a vehicle accident.
These legal restrictions are called “statutes of limitations,” and different causes of action have different deadlines. The significant time limits to consider when filing a legal claim after a vehicle accident in Georgia are:
- two years after a car accident for filing a personal injury lawsuit
- four years after an automobile accident for filing a lawsuit for property damage
Even if you do not have the financial means to see an Accident Doctor, or to seek car accident chiropractic care, don't let that stop you from seeking help.
Many Accident Doctors who provide chiropractic and medical treatment have great contacts with experienced attorneys who can help get you the care you need even if you don't currently have medical insurance or the money to self-pay for your injuries.
To ensure your rights are protected, always speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Other Suggestions for Getting Full Reimbursement From Insurance Companies
Take detailed notes of your pain and injuries and the treatment you receive to help you obtain full compensation for any financial losses related to the accident.
Write down the names, phone numbers, and addresses of any Accident Doctors you visit, whether they be:
- Doctors
- Chiropractors
- Physical Therapy
- Emergency Room Doctor
- Urgent Care Doctor
- Emergency Care
- Primary Care Physician
Accident victims should always keep receipts for medications prescribed to help with pain and suffering or any assistive devices, such as crutches, back braces, or electrical stimulation units.
Also, keep the following records:
- A journal or diary about your injuries and medical care.
- Be specific about everything, and include such details as the degree of pain on a scale from 1-10, the amount of sleep you are getting, and any inconveniences you experience from your injuries.
- File every form of communication you had with medical professionals during treatment for your injuries.
- This includes e-mails and notes that you record during and after telephone calls and doctor's appointments.
- Ask your doctors for all of your medical records that pertain to the accident.
- Keep track of travel expenses for medical care.
No Need to Admit to Fault or Apologize after the Car Accident
You may be tempted to apologize for the Car Accident or admit fault to your car insurance agent.
However, doing so can seriously jeopardize your claim.
Instead of taking the blame for the Car Accident:
- Give a detailed description of the accident regarding what happened and what you saw, along with any relevant photos.
- Get a completed police report.
Even if you believe you might have been entirely or partially at fault, don't tell the other party, your passengers, witnesses, or your car insurance company you were to blame. They may use this against you when you seek compensation for your losses.
How To Better Handle the Insurance Adjusters
Even if you are entitled to reimbursement after you were injured in an accident, a few mistakes may jeopardize your insurance claim. The following tips can help you get a fair settlement for your claim:
- Don't settle until you have completed all of your medical treatment, your injuries are as healed as they are going to get, and you are nearly pain-free. Otherwise, you don't know the total cost of your medical expenses.
- Don't sign release forms or checks with releases on them before you're ready to settle completely.
- Signing such forms may release your car insurance company from the responsibility of paying additional claims.
- Don't talk to people about the case unless you need to. If pressured by the auto insurance companies, direct them to speak with the law firm or accident lawyer who is representing you.
- Don't cave in to pressure not to file a police report.
See a chiropractor and let the health care professionals do what they are supposed to and check you out, preferably within 72 hours of the collision, even if you don't feel pain, to ensure you receive care if you need it.
Get Auto Accident Injury Help at Arrowhead Clinic
Our Car Accident Doctors and Chiropractors can always be seen within 24 hours of the accident. The physician must see you, take your medical history, perform an examination, and record their findings.
As long as a written record of your pain and injuries exists, you have satisfied the insurance companies and can get the medical care you need. Seeing a chiropractor is one of the most important things to do if you intend to file a personal injury claim.
If you're in pain and need to speak with one of our Accident Doctors or need a Referral to a trusted Car Accident Attorney or law firm, please click the link below for a Free Consultation. It may be the most important decision you make after your crash.
